Meet Voight Demeester, ace hockey player and a senior at Penn State.
Related: PHOTOS: Hockey team signs ridiculously fine goalie, perhaps to distract opponents?
In the below video from Davey Wavey, Demeester recounts what it’s like being called a “faggot” by an opponent; a situation he faced last Saturday.
After Demeester alerted the referee about the scuffle, the incident was reported to the Penn State Altoona captain and coach. (The opponent was from a satellite campus, Penn State Altoona.)
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Related: Hockey player Brock McGillis: “I lived a life of denial, because I am gay”
Talking to OutSports, Demeester says, “In the moment I was disappointed for the fact that they represent Penn State.”
But at the same time it fueled my fire in a way that drove me to play better the rest of the game. I started hitting a lot more because I wanted this ‘faggot’ to beat them.”
Watch:
Captain Obvious
Great answer and now maybe the people who keep saying homophobia is over among younger generations can stop spreading that lie. You don’t get to feel so comfortable that you stop speaking out. Kids(and adults) will always deal with this because differences get pointed out and picked on.
Chris
Good man. I applaud his courage.
Kieran
I wonder what the response of the colleges would be if a black player were called “n*gg#r” by another athlete during a game?
cabe
seems like a good guy and he’s cute (and single)…
SFHandyman
Good on Davey for sitting in the background and letting the kid have the spotlight. It is an important issue, he handled well.
GayEGO
Well done!
Celtic
WOW. I should have become a hockey player. LOL. VERY handsome lad. Those who call out in such shameful and disgusting ways more often than not are fighting their own inner queer demons. They are toxic; and, miserable in their own skin. Frankly, being gay is great. Been one for 48 years now. My real concern, somewhat unrelated to this article, is how the Trump administration may ratchet up gay hate. We must be prepared for that reality and we must prepare to fight back.
AntBee
@Kieran: WTF does that issue have to do with what this article is talking about? People get on my damn nerves, always trying to stir up shite!
Ken A.
Seriously, let the word flow off your back. Its not going to hurt you. Faggot is thrown around like asshole, do people run and complain and cry for being an asshole, no they say asshole right back. Anyway the gay community has reclaimed the word, and own it, its only a word can’t hurt you.
Fags are a pack of cigarettes.
highestbidder
@Kieran: that happens all the time. Players get called every vile name possible by opponents.
highestbidder
Try asking this guy what he’s called opponents before, don’t just ask him what he’s been called. I don’t know if it’s even possible to play high impact contact sports without insulting your opponents. It probably even happens in basketball and baseball, too, but I never really played those sports so I don’t know.
tomk1of1
Single…Not for long…lol. I love hockey and most of my gay friends are sports fanatics.
I admit to being one of those “faggots” who has grown up seeing,like all of us, only one kind of me. On tv ,movies of the past especially,but still and especially on tv,just one kind of me. And that flamboyant gay teen,or adult is in nearly every media representation. Amd I love him or her and would be fine if it were true,but it isn’t.
I knew it wasn’t because nearly everyone of my gay friends was a regular Joe or Jane. Often their dates,spouses etc were not?? Opposites attract?? Doesn’t matter. And I am oddly kinda Inbetween. Lol.
So my first thought was we need the world to see that we come in all kinds of flavors and colors and rarely does the media depict us as the eclectic bunch we are. If we were all effeminate or all loved drag or every lesbian was “butch” that would be just fine becasue that would be the truth of it. But to see 99% of us represented as just the stereotype does what?? Right,..it perpetuates a stereotype that is a beautiful one,but one that isn’t true. Not even close.
Mostly we see one kind of gay and lesbian person. But if you are not the stereotype you just are not seen. And part of why that is,is simple,many regular Joes and Janes stay closeted but more so today they are simple not seen in public like always,they mix in as it were. So the world misses us. Which is why it is even more important that the media be truthful. Comedy and entertainment value is part of it, people are “ok” with laughing at us. The media is ridiculously powerful,necessary in a free country,but responsibility in every aspect is paramount. Our media across the board doesn’t do a very good job. Flash is where the $ is. It is what people want.
So good for this brave guy and the people who did a story about him. Gay athletes are not as uncommon as we think. And gay sport nuts are all over. Minneapolis opened a gay sports bar. Well see how it does.
ErikO
Good for him that should not be allowed.
captainburrito
@AntBee: That racial bigotry is taken more seriously than that based on sexual orientation.
davidjohng
@captainburrito: Exactly, thank you for getting it. By taking racial bigotry more seriously the implication is that you as a gay person are seen as less valuable. And believe it or not, self esteem is a major, major issue in the gay community.
operaqueen
Good for him! It makes me proud.
johnjob
And he scores!!!
David Myers
@captainburrito: @captainburrito: And that surly shouldn’t be the case! All human rights should be equally important and equally protected. An attack on anyone’s human right’s is an attack on everyone’s human rights. Bigotry and fear are the excuses used to attack a minority’s rights . . . a classic fascist tactic.
balehead
This seems manipulative and very self-promotional….Instead of an opponent, would he have turned in a TEAMMATE for using the same word???….
balehead
@operaqueen: @highestbidder:
Yes…Would he have turned in a Teammate for using the same word?…
elderan
@Ken A.: Uhm no it hasent it still is as insulting as it was 15 years ago, Im 27 and any time I hear that world regardless of who says it I get very angry very quickly
He hqndled it well I would have lost it
Paco
It’s great to see a man with gay mannerisms playing sports too. Good for him for not trying to cover it up.
Tête Carrée
@Paco:
What “gay mannerisms” did you see? Are you projecting?
Tête Carrée
@Ken A.:
Are you a moron? (or straight?)
P.S. genius, “Fags are a pack of cigarettes.” No each cigarette in the pack is a fag, they’re having an orgy. DUH. And that’s only in the UK.
Paco
@Tête Carrée: his speech and strong emphasis of words. His mouth, head movement and facial expressions as he spoke. All small details that set my gaydar pinging. I think it is great that all types of gay men can be represented in sports. You sound offended about something you shouldn’t be offended about. Maybe it is you projecting your insecurities?
Tête Carrée
@Celtic:
Good call Celtic. If you’re a homophobic moron a low-life loser and cheap redneck, you must be gay. (Don’t worry, you’re not unique in this, it’s been repeated millions of time as you know.) I know many people who have said “faggot” and have not yet turned gay or come out. These people are cowards who go for their “biggest” word that can shut down an argument or discourage your object of hatred in a second.
Jaroslaw
@balehead: I would presume if a teammate had called him that he would take it up with the coach of HIS OWN team. I played sports and the opposing teams did not call each other names. Granted this was 40 years ago in the country, but the point is it IS possible to play without being crude. Funny thing, as a Gay kid, I always used to debate with people the purposes of sports (which in most countries is an addiction) and I always heard things like teaching ethics, team building, sportsmanship etc. And so often it is mostly about money – even in high school. I got a part time job at McDonald’s in a very large city and the very large boys got inducements to play football a certain high schools. To say nothing of all the corruption in college sports, national sports, steroid abuse etc. in the Olympics.
Jaroslaw
And I don’t think the youtube was self aggrandizement, although I don’t know for sure, I’m assuming someone sought him out to interview him. That is how it usually works.
Note to PACO and Tete Carree- there was a study done where the faces of Gay men were blocked out and the viewer had to guess by tone of voice and mannerisms who was Gay. They were right a very large percentage of the time. I don’t remember where I saw this, sorry.
boopadoop
kid’s a big time trump supporter – i wonder how he feels about the administration trying so hard to roll back LGBT rights